Typewriting machine



June 24l194- v l. c. ANTRIM 2,246,968

TyPEwnITING MACHINE y Filed Feb. 17,"1939 s sheets-sheet -J.

June 24, 1941. f 1 c. ANTRIM 2,246,968

TYPEwRI-TING MACHINE Filed Feb. 17, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. Z

v lNyENToR v Louis C. Awr'zfm VBY der ATTORNEYS June 24, 1941. L. c. ANTRlM TYEwRTING MACHINE s sheds-Sheet s Filed Feb. 17, 1959 Louis Q Anfr ,Mw ATTORNEYS Patented June 24,' 1941.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITING MACHINE A Louis C. Antrim, New York, N. Y., assignor to Autographic Register CompanyJIoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey I Application February 17,1939, Serial No. 256,955 11 claims. (01497-133) form-length intervals on the advancing strips,

the discrepancy is not cumulative.

In the form of the present invention at present preferred, the strip or strips of a superposed pile of strips, which may or may not be secured together but are fed as a unit through the machine, are provided at form-length intervals therealong with a physical characteristic, pref- Business Machines Corporation contains mechanism for electing the form when ,the last item has been written thereon and to bring the first line of writing on the next form to writing position.

Heretofore, many attempts have been made to feed a plurality of webs through this typewriter carriage and to maintain the webs in alignment with each other and in coordination with the machine. Such attempts have been unsuccessful for two reasons-first, because the strips, in order to keep them in registration, had to be provided with pinwheel-engaging apertures so as to be positively fed; and, second, because the mechanism of the machine was incapable of sufciently accurate adjustment to feed the strips exactly to the first line of writing at each operation. The mechanism was nearly perfect, but there was always a slight discrepancy in the ejecting feeding motion, and this was cumulative,

with the result that the operator had to frequently readjust the strips relative to the Platen of the machine.

These dilculties are avoided by the present invention, which is a species of the inventions disclosed in my application Serial No. 246,263, filed December 17, 1938, now abandoned, my application Serial No. 255,243, filed February 8, 1939, now abandoned, and my application Serial No. 372,100, filed December 28, 1 940, said last application containing all that is contained in the two earlier applications, by controlling the feeding operations of the strips by photoelectric means so that upon each operation of the ejecting mechanism, the form to be writtenupon, is brought to a. denite predetermined position controlled by physical characteristics of the strips themselves. With this feeding mechanism,

slight but unobjectionable discrepancies in theA location of the form at the rst line of writing may occur, but, since thestrips are brought to a definite position and arrested there under con- `-trol of the physical characteristics located at erably in the form of a light-absorbing or nonrefiecting portion. These nonreflecting portions can beformed 'on the strips during the printing operation in which the succession of forms are 'printed thereon by making a dot or other shape of black or other light-absorbing color on the back of the strip. Also, this portion may be formed by providing the strips with cutouts which pass over the black or nonre'ecting surface of the table, or the strips can be provided with cutouts and have a continuous carbon strip which will be exposedl through the cutout to provide a nonrefiecting portion on the strip.

These portions of the strip, as they passthrough the machine with the strips in a predetermined path, will prevent a light beam from reflecting from the strip to a light-sensitive cell when, they reach a predetermined point in the machine, which may be varied according to the length of the form for the place where the first line of writing occurs. An electric circuit is controlled by the detection of one of these portions by the light-sensitive cell which results in the releasing of the feed rollers so that further feeding of the strips ceases. At the same time, the strip is engaged by a brake which stops itsv advance and prevents overthrow. With a control of `this type, it is not necessary to pro-- vide feeler contacts which ride on the strips or other means in engagement with the strips which might'injure the strips or otherwise be undesirable.

One of the important features of the present invention is the provision of means for controlling the ejection of a written form and the location of the next lform in writing position in such a Waythat it may be applied as an attachment to existing machines, and' in such a way as not to disturb the electrical or mechanical parts of riage is tomanually adjust the mechanism, for I regulating the quantity of election, inthe way provided for in the machine, to the maximum, or at least to such points suiiiciently beyond the lengthof the form that are being used in the machine as to assure some idle operation of the ejector mechanism beyond what is needed to feed the forms.

Any suitable electrical arrangement and mechanism for releasing the feed rollers may be employed. If desired, .the control can be in a low voltage circuit and operate the solenoid for releasing the feed rollers and clamping the paper.

In the broader aspects of this invention, the feeding mechanism may, if desired, be the positive type, including pins engaging pin-apertures in .the paper so as to maintain the paper strips in registration with one another. However, it is desirable to omit these mutilating apertures, and, according to the present invention, the paper strips, including the interleaved carbon strips, may be suitably stapled together to travel through .the machine as one. When the paper strips so stapled together are fed frictionally, creeping occurs between the several strips, but the amount of creep resulting from the feeding of one form-length is imperceptible and not objectionable. With the strips stapled together, this creep is accumulated in advance of the next staple, and when the feed mechanism is released to interrupt the ejection of the strips, the strips are relieved of frictional engagement with each other, with the result that the strips themselves shift relatively and come into registration as defined by the next staple.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanyingdrawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan vview of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine with the attachment in place.

Fig. 3.is a longitudinal section, taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the device showing the rollers in feeding relation.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the characteristic on the strip in intercepting relation, with the light beam and the feedrollers in raised position.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the control view of the control unit, showing the operating the solenoid.

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of the strip as used in the machine.

The attachment of the present invention is adapted to be readily applied to a standard tabulating machine without disturbing or removing the electrical or mechanical parts of the machine. It is illustrated as being applied to a machine 20, having a Carroll carriage, of :the manufacture and sale of the International Business Machines Corporation.

As is well know in machines of this type, continuous strips of stationery 2| may be utilized. In the preferred form of the invention, lthe strips 2|, which may or may not have a succession of lprinted forms thereon, are secured together at by staples 2|a which the continuous strips whereby `the strips are fed through the machine as a unit. These strips are provided at form-length intervals with non-reflecting portions. so that light projected thereon'will not be reflected therefrom, ior a purposey to be later described.

'I'hese nonreiiesting portions can be in the form-length intervals are driven through form of dots 22 or other configurations of light circuit for absorbing ink which are placed on the strips in predetermined relation :to the form thereon during the printing operation, or they can be apertures 22a cut in the strips at the time the forms are printed thereon and in predetermined relation with said forms. These portions, of course, will not reiiect the light projected on the sheet, and this is especially true if they are carried over a light-absorbing surface, or are interleaved with transfer material, such as carbon paper or the like, which will be, oi' course, nonrefiecting.

The strips pass through the machine, around a platen 23 and under a pressure roller` 24 cooperating therewith. The printing mechanism of the machine indicated as a type bar 25 is automatically controlled, through mechanism not shown, by a card having suitably arranged apertures representing predetermined data, the ma.- chine scanning the data from the card and automatically controlling the writing mechanism to translate this information into impressions on' the continuous strip. During the writing operation, the platen is automatically advanced lineby-line until all of the required data is inserted on the form.

The machine of the type described is provided with ejecting means, indicated generally at 26, for quickly rotating the platen and feeding the form from the machine after the writing operation has been completed and presenting the first line of writing of the next form in 'writing positlOn.

The operation of the electing mechanism in this type of machine is initiatedby a suitably located hole in the card so that the controlling mechanism, uponl reaching this hole, immediately puts the ejecting mechanism into operation to rotate the platen and quickly feed the form out of writing position. Mounted on the side of the machine is a movable part 21 which is operated by the ejecting mechanism during the ejecting period to move outwardly and remain in extended position throughout the period.

The ejecting mechanism can be adjusted so as to advance the strip a. definite number of inches so as to present the line of writing on the next form in writing position.

In actual practice, it has been diilicult and almost impossible to adjust the mechanism so that it places .the rst line of writing exactly in line of `position in each operation thereof, and the error in such adjustment during the operation oi the machine accumulates so that ibefore very long the position of the strip in the machine must be manually adjusted by the operator, thus requiring :the attention of the operator to lsee that theisucceeding forms are in proper position, and, if not, correcting the error. l

The attachment vof the present invention locates each form individually in proper position, and,therefore, eliminates the accumulated error in the ejecting of the sheets, thus rendering it unnecessary for an operator to be constantly watching the machine and manually correcting the error.

The front portion of the attachment of the present invention is similar to that shown in my copending application Serial No. 246,263, and comprises a'pair of side plates 3G, secured together by a plurality of rods 32, 33 to form a unit. The side plates are each provided with a notch 34 in the front edge thereof and another notch 36 in the bottom edge, which notches are. located so as to fit over existing studs 31, 38

on the frame of the machine and are locked thereto by a pivoted latch 39.

A pair of feed rollers 40, 4I are mounted on shafts 42, 43 extending between the side plates for feeding theV continuous strips through the machine. The feed roller 4l is gearedto the platen of the machine through suitable gearing 44 (Fig. 2) so as to be rotated when the platen is driven from the automatically controlled driv-x ing means. The pressure of the roller 24 on the platen is relieved so that the platen, when rotated, will not feed the strip, all of the feed being accomplished by the feed rollers.

The shaft carrying feed rollers 48 is carried by a pair of arms 45 pivotally mounted on the side plates. The rollers 40 are normally urged into engagement with the roller 4| by a spring 46. The actuator for moving the rollers 48 out of engagement with the roller 4| comprises a pair of arms 41, 48 secured to a rod 49 journaled in the side plates. These arms have blocks 50, 5| which engage the arms 45 and move the rollers 40 away from the roller 4| when the arms 41, 48 are moved downwardly, thus stopping the feeding. The arm 48 has a rearwardly extending part 48a by which it is actuated in a manner to be described.

In rder to control the operation of the feed rollers, a novel control unit is provided which will cooperateA with the strips to properly locate the first line of writing on the succeeding form in writing position. The control unit of the present invention is mounted on the back of the machine so as to cooperate with the continuous strips as .they enter the machine.' The control unit comprises a pair of side plates 60, 6| secured together by a pair of rods 62,63, extending transversely of the machine. A

As shown clearly in Fig. 3, this part of the attachment is secured to the machine by having each of the side walls provided with a notch 64 on its forward face adapted to be slipped endwise over an existing stud 65 on the side walls of the machine, and a. notch 66 opening on the undersurface adapted to engage and be supported upon another stud 61 carried by the side walls of the machine. A latch plate 68 is pivoted to the side plates, and is provided with a hooked portion 68a adapted to engage under the second stud and hold the unit in place on the machine.

In order to properly locate the strip in writing position, the present invention provides a means mounted on the attachment and controlled by the advancing strip for rendering the feed rollers inoperative to continue feed when the strip has reached proper writing position.

While this may be accomplished in many ways, in the preferred form of the invention a control means, which includes a light-sensitive means, is spaced from the strip so that control means does not engage the strip during its passage through the machine. The light-sensitive means will be controlled by the position of the lnonreflecting portions of the strip and actuate a means to immediately stop the advancing of the strip upon the detection thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1, a channel member 69 extends across the space between the side plates 60 and 6| so as to form a table 18 over which the advancing strips can pass. If desired, this table can have its upper surface coated with a nonreflecting material as shown in Fig. '1. 'I'he table has its ends 1| bent up, each end being secured to a block 12 slidably mounted on the upper edge of the side plates as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The channel is electrically insulated from the blocks by insulation 13 as shown in Fig. 1.

Disposed between the bent-up ends of channel member 69 is a rod 14 which is secured in place and insulated therefrom. The control unit 15 is slidably mounted on thev rod and may be adjusted along the rod transversely of the table and locked in adjusted position by means of set screw 16. The control unit comprises a carrier block 11 slidably mountedon the rod 14 and having an upstanding portion 19 on which is mounted a light source 19 and a light-sensitive or photoelectric cell 80. The light source and cell are enclosed in shields 8| and 82, and another shield 83 is carried by the block and extends toward the strip so as to prevent undesired rays of light from actuating the cell. The beam of light from the light sourceis focused on the stripby a lens or the like 84 and is reflected therefrom to the light-sensitive cell.

The table and the control unit carried thereby can be adjusted on the. attachment to properly locate the .control Aso that the beam of light will engage the strip in the path of the movement of the nonreilecting portions of the strip as the strips pass through the machine.

In order to define the path of the strips through the machine, suitable guides 85 are adjustably mounted on the rod and have dependent fingers 86 to engage the side margins of the strips. Additional guides 81 are adjustably carried by the rods 32, v33 at the front portion of the attachment and engage the sides of the strips.

The circuit for controlling the feeding means includes a pair of contacts 90, 9| which are operated by a relay 92. The relay is connected to the photoelectric cell through an amplifier 83 so as to be actuated thereby.

As shown in Fig. 6, the amplifier can be of the type including a thermionic tube 94 having the grid 95 thereof connected to the photoelectric cell, and when the cell is illuminated the grid will be biased so that current flows in the relay circuit and moves the contact 9| to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus holding the control circuit open. The contact 9| is normally urged to closed-circuit position with contact by a spring 93.

As soon as the nonreflecting portion of the strip passes under the beam, no light will be reflected to the cell, and the relay will be deenergized and release the contact 9| which will be moved into closed-circuit position to stop the feeding of the strip. The stopping of the feed of the strip is tive cell, the relay will be released and the contac-ts moved into closed-circuit position by the spring.

The solenoid will be energized and will draw the armature into the core pulling the arms 41,

48 downwardly so that the blocks 50, 5| engage the arms 45 and move the pressure rollers about their pivotal mounting away from the feed roller v to stop the feed of the continuous strip.

To prevent the operation of the feed-arresting means at any time except during the ejecti'ng periods, the control circuit is provided with a monitor switch 96 which is closed only during the electing period. As described in my copending application, the switch is a normally open switch and is moved to closed-circuit position and held inthisposition by the movable part 21 of the electing mechanism which is moved during the electing period.

When the attachment is applied to the machine, the electing mechanism is adjusted in such a manner that it will at least have a short idle period after the pressure roller has been released. In other words. instead of electing for a ten-inch form, the mechanism is set for a twelve-inch form, so that there is sufficient operation of the feed roller during the ejecting period to insure proper positioning in the strip.

In order to prevent the sheets from feeding during the idle operation of the platen and roller Il driven thereby, means are provided for positively stopping the strip. This means, in the present invention, is similar to that shown in the said copending application, and comprises a normally inoperative brake 91 insulatedly carried by the rod 1I mounted between the ends of the member l! having an actuator 9! which is operated by the arm a when it moves to release the feed rollers. In this manner, the brake is applied simultaneously with the separation of the feed rollers.

The operation of the control is as follows:

After the .writing operation is completed, the electing mechanism is initiated to drive the platen to eject the strip. The feed rollers, 4| of the attachment will be driven from the platen and will continue feeding of the strip over the platen from writing position. 'Ihe transversely extending channel member 6,9 with the elements carried thereby will have been adjusted along the top edges of the side plates 60, 8| to properly locate the control unit so that it will be in proper position with respect to the writing position of the machine to cause the light beam to be intercepted by the nonreflecting portion of the strip and stop the next form-in writing position. The control unit will have been adjusted transversely of the continuous strip so that the beam will be projected on the strips in the path of movement of the nonrefiecting portions.

I'he ejector mechanism will drive the feed rollers which will `draw the continuous strips over the platen. As soon as the ejector mechanism is operated, the movable part 21, actuated thereby, will close the monitor switch and establish the control circuit including the contacts v90 and 9|, and, upon the control unit detecting the nonreflecting portion of the strip, the contacts will close and complete the circuit to the solenoid which will cause the armature to be drawn into the core and pull down the actuating arms for releasing the feed rollers from feeding relation with the strip, and also operate the brake to in- I contacts before the strip will be stopped. This will ins'ure against accidental operation of the control unit making, in effect, one unit check upon the other.

In the broader aspects of the invention, the control circuit, including the solenoid and contacts, can be 4a lowv voltage circuit, while the control unit is energized by a higher voltage.

Also, it may be desired to control the light source so that it is illuminated only during the electing perlod.iand, when this is the case, the circuit to the light should be controlled by the monitor switch, and the control circuit including the solenoid be designed with a suillcient time lag that the solenoid will not operate before the relay has had an opportunity to attract the contact 9| and open the circuit.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine of the type described, an attachment having feeding means including a pair of feed rollers for feeding a continuous strip through the machine, said strip having a succession of printed forms thereon; means for operating the feeding means to quickly elect a form from the machine; photoelectric means carried by the attachment and controlled by the advancing continuous strip for separating the feed rollers to stop the advance of the strip when the first line'of writing on the next succeeding form is in proper writing position; normally inoperative brake means carried by the atstantly stop the continuous strip with the form in proper position.

While it is true that the adjustment is such that the first line of writing may not be in an accurately determined position, such error will not be cumulative, as each form is located separately and independently. The ejector mechanism will continue to operate for the duration of the electing period, but, inasmuch as the pressure roller is out of engagement with the feed roller, the strip will not be fed.

As soon as the elector mechanism has comkpleted its period of operation, the movable part carried thereby will release the monitor switch and open the circuit to the solenoid, whereupon tachment; and means for applying the brake means to the strip simultaneously with the separation of the feed rollers.

2. In a typewriting machine of the type described, an attachment having feeding means lncluding a pair of feed rollers for feeding a continuous strip through the machine, said strip havingl predetermined nonrefiecting portions at form-length intervals; means for operating the feeding means to quickly elect a form from the machine; a normally inoperative brake carried -by the attachment; and means carried by the attachment for controlling the feeding means during. the electing period comprising a light-sensitive cell and a circuit controlled thereby, said circuit including a solenoid for separating the feed rollers and rendering said brake operative to stop the advance of the strip when the first line of writing on the next succeeding form is in writing position, said circuit being closed upon detection by the light-sensitive means of a nonrefiecting portion of the advancing strip.

3. In a typewriting machine of the type described, means including a pair of separable feed rollers for feeding continuous stationery through the typewriter, said stationery including a strip provided at form-length intervals with a nonrefiecting portion; means for operating the feeding means vto eject a form out of the typewriter; means including a light source providing a beam focused on the strip. in the path of movement 10Cute the mst une' of writing on forms of different lengths in proper writing position.

of the nonrefiecting portion; a photoelectric cell adapted to receive the beam reflected from the strip, the nonrefiecting portion interrupting the beam when the advancing strip has reached a predetermined position in the machine;l and means controlled by the photoelectric cell for separating said feed rollers and stopping the feed, upon the detection of said nonreecting portion of the strip, whereby the first line of writing on the succeeding form is properly located in writing position.

4. In a typewriting machine of the type described, means including a feed roller and a coperating pressure roller for feeding continuous stationery through the typewriter, said stationery comprising strips provided at form-length intervals with a portion which does not readily reflect light; means for operating the feeding vmeans to eject a form out of the typewriter;

means including a light source providing a beam focused on the strip in the path of movement of said portion; a light-sensitive cell adapted to receive the beam reflected from the stationery, the said portion preventing reflection of and interrupting the beam when the advancing stationery has reached a predetermined position in the machine; and means controlled by the light-sensitive means for releasing the pressure roller from cooperative relation with said feed roller and thereby stopping the feed, upon the detection of said portion of the stationery, whereby the first line of writing on'the succeeding form is properly located in writing position.

5. In a typewriting machine of the type described, means including, a pair of feed rollers for feeding a continuous strip through the machine, sa'id strip having a succession of printedy forms thereon and nonreiiecting portions at form-length intervals; means for operating the -feeding means line-by-line during the writing operation and thereafter continuously during an ejecting period to eject a form from the machine; electro-responsive means for separating the roll- 7.y In a typewriting machine of the type described, an attachment having a pair of feed rollers for feeding a continuous strip through the machine, said strip having nonrefiecting portions thereon at form-length intervals; means carried by the attachment for separating the feed rollers when the first line of writing on the next succeeding form is in proper writing position; means cooperating With the strip for stopping the advance of the strip upon separation of the feed rollers; and means for controlling said first-mentioned means including a control unit having a light source for projecting a beam toward the strip and a light-sensitive cell mounted thereon'for receiving the reflected beam, shielding means for the light source and light-sensitive cell mounted on the unit, and a relay controlled by the lightsensitive cell for actuating the means separating the feed rollers upon the detection of a nonrefiecting portion of the strip, said control unit being adjustable relative to the attachmentto properly locate the rst line of Writing on forms of different lengths in proper Writing position. f

8. In a typewriting machine of the type described, an attachmenthaving means for securing the same to the machine, said attachment having a rotatable roller over which a continuous strip is led; pressure means for pressing a continuous strip having printed forms thereon into engagement with the rotatable roller to cause said strip to be fed thereby through the machine; means for rotating said roller an amount in excess of that necessary to move the continuous strip to cause the first line of writing onvthe next form to be properly positioned in the typewriting machine; means including a light source for projecting a beam toward the strip and a light-sensiers to stop the feed of the strip; means for establishing a circuit to the electro-responsive means during the ejecting period; relay means including means in said circuit for completing the same; and photoelectric means for rendering the relay means operative to close said circuit upon detection by the photoelectric means 'of a nonrefiecting portion of the continuous strip to energize the electro-responsive means to separate the rollers, said circuit establishing means opening the control circuit at the end of the ejecting period.

6. In a typewriting machine of the type described, an attachment having a pair of feed rollers for feeding a continuous strip throughy the machine, said stn'p having nonreflecting portions thereon at form-length intervals; means carried by the attachment for separating the feed rollers when the rst line of writing on the next succeeding form is in proper writing position'brake means for stopping the advance of the strip when the feed rollers are separated; and means for controlling the -means for separating the rollers and brake means including a light source for projecting a beam toward the strip, a light-sensitive cell for receiving the reflected beam, and a relay controlled by the light-sensitivel cell for simultaneously actuating both means upon the detection of a nonreiiecting portion of the strip, said light source and light-sensitive cell being adjustable relative to the attachment to properly tive cell for receiving the beam reflected from said strip, said strip having means thereon in predetermined relation with the first line of writing on the strip to intercept the beam and vary the illumination of the light-sensitive cell; and means actuated by the variation in illumination of the light-sensitive cell for relieving said pressure means whereby the roller is rendered inoperative to advance the strips.

9. In a typewriting machine of scribed, an attachment having means for securing the same to the machine, said attachment having a rotatable roller over which a continuous strip is led; pressure means for pressing a continuous strip having printed forms thereon into engagement with the rotatable roller to cause said strip to be fed thereby through the machine;

@means for rotating said roller an amount in excess of that necessary to move the continuous strip to cause the rstline of writing on the next form to be properly positioned in the typewriting machine; means including a light source for pro,- jecting a beam toward the strip and a light-sensitive cell for receiving the beam reiiected from said strip, said strip having means thereon in predetermined relation with the first line of writing on the strip to intercept the beam and vary the illumination of the light-sensitive cell; means actuated by the variation in illumination of the light-sensitive cell for relieving said pressure means whereby the roller is rendered inoperative to advance the strips; and means also actuated by the light-sensitive cell forapplying a braking action to the paper to holdthe same against accidental movement while thevpressure is relieved the type deand the roller rendered inoperative to feed the strip.

10. In a typewriter of the type described, a platen; means for frictionally engaging and feeding continuous stationery having a succession of form-lengths over the platen, said stationery comprising a plurality of record strips interleaved with transfer material, at least one of the exposed strips having predetermined physical characteristics at form-length intervals; means form is in desired writing position.

for writing on the continuous stationery; ejecting means for actuating the feeding means to eject the remainder of a form-length from the machine and present the first line' of writing on the next succeeding form-length in writing position; means for actuating the ejecting means afte the writing operation, said ejecting means being adjustable and adjusted to operate the feeding means to eject a greater length of strip than the form-length being used; and control means spaced from the strip and rendered operative upon the detection of a physical characteristic in the advancing strip for removing the frictional driving engagement of the feed means with the stationery and rendering the feeding means operated by the ejecting means ineffective to continue to feed the 11. In a typewriting machine of the type described, means for frictionally feeding continuous stationery through the typewriter, said stationery including strips provided with a succession of printed forms and a nonreecting portion on each form in predetermined position with'respect to the printing of the form; means for operating the feeding means to eject a form out of the typewriter; means including a light source providing a beam focused on the strip in the path of movement of the nonreilecting portion; a light-sensitive means adapted to receive the beam reilector from the paper, the nonreiiecting portion interrupting the beam when the advancing stationery has reached a predetermined position in the machine; and means controlled by the interruption of the beam to the light-sensitive means for quickly relieving the friction of the feeding means and abruptly stopping the advance of the strip, upon the detection of said nonreiiecting portion of the strip, whereby the first line of writing on the succeeding form is properly located in writing position.

LOUIS C. ANTRIM. 

